Hotel – Housekeeping Manager – Osoyoos. Her husband works in maintenance at the same hotel until his stage 4 pancreatic cancer prevented him from working.  Some prescriptions covered by her benefit plan, but his Medical EI is depleted. Husband would like a recliner chair to help him move from sitting to upright position and they have some debt. They have two teenage children who work seasonally at the hotel as well. The BCHF provided $8,500 to support monthly expenses and additional funds so the family has an opportunity to decide how best to take care of him during the final part of his life.

Spa – Director of Operations – Victoria. The applicant, who is the main income provider to the household, was diagnosed in August 2022 with an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphona and was undergoing chemotherapy. They also have ongoing treatments for Relapse Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. In December 2022, the applicant fell and broke their right foot. The BCHF supported her with $9,500 to cover the monthly expenses for the next 3 months while the applicant is recovering properly from her foot injury. The applicant is willing to go back to work and is currently working with her employer to find alternative tasks and have them return to work in a lower capacity.

Pub – Server – Vancouver. A 24-year-old server who immigrated to Canada in 2017. He has been working in the BC hospitality industry since 2019, taking 6-7 shifts a week as he is the main supporter for the family (mother and three siblings back home). He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on December 27, 2022. In February started an intense chemotherapy regime as an outpatient, (sometimes 4-5 chemotherapy treatments per week), travelling from Coquitlam to Vancouver General Hospital scheduled until the end of July. After that, he will go for “maintenance” treatments for another year. He currently lives with a younger cousin who is a full-time student. The BCHF supported the applicant with a total of $9,600, to cover treatment costs and living expenses until July/August when he can return to work.

Restaurant – Assistant General Manager – Vancouver. A 32-year-old assistant to the General Manager was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in March 2022. He received a stem cell transplant on June 2022, but a mass was discovered in his lungs at Christmas 2022 when he continued his chemotherapy. During the review by BCHF, the applicant was informed by the hospital that the cancer is terminal, changing the request for assistance for themselves to their family. The BCHF has supported the applicant with a total of $4,000 to provide income for the months of April and May to figure out how to “close” their chapter in Vancouver, saying goodbyes to friends while regaining strength from the chemotherapy and to provide the flight ticket for their mother to come to Vancouver and help with the moving expenses to Alberta where the family resides.

Bistro – Server/Vancouver Island – A 53-year-old server applicant was diagnosed with colon cancer in November 2022 and underwent surgery to remove part of the colon and lymph nodes to prevent spreading. The applicant had their last day of work on November 25, 2022 and has since been on medical EI. The applicant went into a small surgery on February 22, 2023 to have a small port implanted to help with the chemotherapy treatments that will last treatment at the end of May 2023. The BCHF supported the applicant with a total of $7,000 to cover expenses of the next four (4) months of chemotherapy. With the help of the BCHF, the applicant can focus on their recovery. The applicant is hopeful to return to work as soon as possible.

Restaurant – Server/Radium Hot Springs – The applicant is a long-term worker in the hospitality industry. Her spouse who has been sick for a year, and has not worked during that period, was admitted to VHG earlier this month and underwent surgery for a liver transplant on March 7. As they live out of town they will need to find accommodation for the recovery period. When applied, the applicant was sleeping in her car. The social worker secured living accommodations while her spouse is in the hospital. The BCHF covered the $1,500 cost of an apartment through the Happy Liver Society.